Pendulum
Pearl Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Til you been down so low
The future's bright
Lit up with no where to go
To and fro the pendulum throws
We are here and then we go
Understand what we don't know
This might pass
This might last
This may grow
Easy come and easy go
Easy left me a long time ago
I'm in the fire but I'm still cold
Nothing works, works for me anymore
To and fro the pendulum throws
To and fro the pendulum throws
(To and fro the pendulum throws)
(To and fro the pendulum throws)
(To and fro the pendulum throws)
(To and fro the pendulum throws)
The lyrics to Pearl Jam's song Pendulum seem to be a reflection on life and its cyclical nature. The opening lines you can't know what's high until you've been down so low seem to be about how we need to experience the lows of life to truly appreciate its highs. The next line, the future's bright, lit up with nowhere to go, expresses the idea that even when we have a good future ahead of us, we can still feel lost or uncertain.
The chorus, to and fro the pendulum throws, emphasizes the idea of life's cyclical nature, and how we go through ups and downs throughout our lives. The next line, we are here and then we go, suggests the fleeting nature of life and how we can never really know when our time is up. The line my shadow left me long ago could be a metaphor for feeling lost or disconnected from ourselves.
The second verse begins with the line understand what we don't know, which could be interpreted as a call to embrace the unknown and accept that we can't know everything. The lines this might pass, this might last, this may grow seem to be about the uncertainty of life and how things can both change and remain the same. The line easy come and easy go, easy left me a long time ago suggests that life is not always easy and carefree, and that a sense of innocence or naivety can be lost over time.
The final lines of the song, I'm in the fire but I'm still cold, nothing works for me anymore, convey a sense of hopelessness or despair. The repetition of the line to and fro the pendulum throws reinforces the idea of life's cyclical nature and how we must learn to navigate its ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't know what's high
You cannot truly understand the good things in life without experiencing the bad.
'Til you been down so low
One has to hit rock bottom to appreciate what's good in life.
The future's bright
The future holds promise and potential.
Lit up with no where to go
Despite the brightness of the future, there is uncertainty and a lack of direction.
To and fro the pendulum throws
Life is constantly shifting between ups and downs, highs and lows.
We are here and then we go
Life is fleeting and transient. We come into existence and then eventually leave.
My shadow left me long ago
The singer feels lost and alone, as if they have lost a part of themselves.
Understand what we don't know
It is important to recognize that there is much in life that we do not understand.
This might pass
Everything in life, whether good or bad, is temporary and will eventually end.
This might last
At the same time, some things in life have the potential to endure and have lasting impact.
This may grow
Some things in life have the potential to grow and develop into something greater.
Easy come and easy go
Things that come easily can just as easily disappear.
Easy left me a long time ago
The singer has lost their sense of ease and comfort in life.
I'm in the fire but I'm still cold
The singer is facing difficult circumstances but is emotionally numb to them.
Nothing works, works for me anymore
The singer feels like nothing in life is effective or useful for them.
(To and fro the pendulum throws)
Reiteration of the idea that life is constantly shifting and changing.
(To and fro the pendulum throws)
Reiteration of the idea that life is constantly shifting and changing.
(To and fro the pendulum throws)
Reiteration of the idea that life is constantly shifting and changing.
(To and fro the pendulum throws)
Reiteration of the idea that life is constantly shifting and changing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eddie Jerome Vedder, Jeffrey Allen Ament, Stone C. Gossard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Viviana Alonso
Péndulo
No puedes saber que es estar arriba
hasta que no hayas estado muy abajo
El futuro es brillante
Iluminado sin ningún lugar a donde ir
De un lado al otro oscila el péndulo
Estamos aquí y luego nos vamos
Mi sombra me abandonó hace mucho tiempo
Entender lo que no sabemos
Esto podría pasar
Esto podría durar
Esto podría crecer
Lo que llega fácil, fácil se va
Lo fácil me abandonó hace mucho tiempo
Estoy en las llamas, pero aún así tengo frío
Nada funciona, nada funciona para mí ya
De un lado al otro oscila el péndulo
De un lado al otro oscila el péndulo
De un lado a otro
De un lado a otro
Fred Lincoln
Can't know what's high
'Til you've been down so low
The future's bright,
Lit up with nowhere to go,
To and fro the pendulum throws
We are here and then we go
My shadow left me long ago
Understand what we don't know
This might pass
This might last
This may grow
Easy come and easy go
Easy left me a long time ago
I'm in the fire but I'm still cold
Nothing works works for me anymore
Ah ah ah ah ah
To and fro the pendulum throws
To and fro the pendulum throws
To and fro
To and fro
Jari Liitola
"Pendulum"
Can't know what's high
'Til you've been down so low
The future's bright,
Lit up with nowhere to go,
To and fro the pendulum throws
We are here and then we go
My shadow left me long ago
Understand what we don't know
This might pass
This might last
This may grow
Easy come and easy go
Easy left me a long time ago
I'm in the fire but I'm still cold
Nothing works works for me anymore
Ah ah ah ah ah
To and fro the pendulum throws
To and fro the pendulum throws
To and fro
To and fro
sab thie
Eddy Vedder has one of the most unique voice on this planet. I recognize his voice among 10.000 voices immediately. And, by the way, TEN is one of the greatest records since music exists!!
Rachela Bee
Me either...that is why I have found this song...watching the series "Manifest" .. I thought Eddy sing there.."Till u been down so los.. the future's bright unnerstand what we don't know..."
mysticbeetle
Agree ❤ it
Marta Lawrence
What an amazing song...blows me away everytime🖤🎶🎼
trey burke
one of pearl jams most haunting songs
Rodolfo Martins
+trey burke haunting, that's the exact word
mysticbeetle
❤ this song
VersaceDraco
I want this song to stay a hidden gem forever.
Runa
Gorgeous, haunting, criminally underrated song. Love live Vedder, Pearl Jam <3
Hope NR
His voice just gets inside me.